New Orleans is well-acquainted with the waste created by discarded beads once Mardi Gras ends, but one Louisiana biologist is working on a way to reduce the debris in a sustainable manner.

LSU Biological Sciences professor Naohiro Kato is creating biodegradable Mardi Gras beads entirely out of large amounts of microscopic algae, or microalgae, that can disintegrate over time in soil. Kato stated in a news release Tuesday (Feb. 6) that he needs to manufacture microalgae in a pond the size of a football field to make the concept a commercial success.

Kato stated one of his students accidentally discovered the ingredients Kato has refined to produce the biodegradable beads. His student was supposed to come into the lab three nights in a row to move the class's test tube samples of algae from a centrifuge to a freezer, but one night he forgot. The next morning, Kato stated he found a large glob of algae accumulating oils on the bottom of the centrifuge.

Kato stated he thought of using that substance to make Mardi Gras beads because it's one of the ingredients used for bioplastic production. He then used a six-foot kiddie pool to grow large amounts of the microalgae outside because Louisiana's climate is an ideal environment to naturally mass-produce microalgae, LSU stated. A gallon of microalgae alone produces a few biodegradable beads, the university added.

LSU also drew attention to how companies that make products like health supplements can use microalgae to market their products as vegetarian or vegan. Kato already has a patent pending to make beads entirely out of microalgae using the leftover biomass unused by the nutraceutical industry. He also launched a spinoff company called Microalgae LLC in Baton Rouge to support his business model.

"I believe we can change and do better. We have great resources to make our Mardi Gras celebrations more sustainable and to protect our environment and health," Kato stated in a news release.